Clashes in India over march ban

HUNDREDS of Hindu nationalists have clashed with police outside India's parliament after being barred from conducting a religious march at a disputed holy site at the heart of deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslims.

Police used water cannons and bamboo batons on Monday to disperse 500 members and supporters of the World Hindu Council as they broke security barriers near the parliament building.

The city of Ayodhya, 550 kilometres east of New Delhi, has been under heavy security since last week, when the local government banned the march fearing communal violence.

Muslims say the site is the location of a former medieval mosque, while Hindus say it is the birthplace of their god Rama and that a temple stood there before the mosque was built.